The Portland daily press., 1887-09-15
ONE HUNDRED YEARS.
Bowdoinham Baptist Association
Celebrates Its Centennial.
Especial to the Press. ]

Especial to the Press.1
BowDoINHAM, Sept. 14.-The Bowdoin-
ham Baptist Association was organized at
Bowdoinham in 1887. The centennial of this
organization was observed with appropriate
services yesterday ard today, commencing
Tuesday afternoon.
Major E. Rowell. of Hallowell. was chosen
moderator, and Rev. C. +. Holbrook clerk
After the reading of the letter of the Bow
doinham church. cordially welcoming the
association on an occasion of so much inter-
est. Rev. e. S. Small of Livermore Falls,
preached an historical discourse, in which he
reviewed the history of the association from
its inception, and paid eloquent tributes TO
the preachers who had been members of il,
The history of the association, in reference
to the following topics, was considered: !:
Special times of ingathering; the missionary
spirit and activity, from the beginning; the
prompt and constant endorsement of domes-
tic, foreign and mission societies; of
educational institutions and societies; of
Sunday schools, and literature; the early
stand taken for temperance, total absti-
nence, State and National prohibition; oppo-
sition to slavery. and later to the rebellion :;
its days of prayer; doctrinal position, etc.
1t was an eloquent address, full of valua-
BILE information, and gave great pleasure to
the audience
In the veening the doctrinal sermon was
preached by Rev. A. r. Cram, d. d., of
East Winthrop, text, I'd Epistle of John, 9th
verse: He that abideth i'm the doctrine of
Christ. he hath both the Father and the
Son." The sermon was followed with an
address by Rev. G. II. Spalding, district sec
retary of the American Baptist Publication
Society
Ihls morning. at $50, there was social
meeting, led by Rev. Mr.. White of Augusta.
Letters from the churches in the association
giving brief sketches of the history of these
churches were then read. An hour was
then devoted to the woman's foreign and
home mission societies, Miss Abbie S. Rus
sell of East Deering, presiding. Miss Cram
of East Winthrop then read paper on
woman's work in the association during the
past one hundred years. Rev. W. F. Thom-
as of Henthada, Burmah, gave an address
on woman's work for women in Burmah,
and Mrs. Anna Sargent Hunt gave an ad-
dress on woman's work, for women, in this
country.
Rev. Henry S. Burrage, d. d., then read
an extended sketch of the life and labors of
Rey Isaac Case, one Of the founders of the
association. He was born in Rehoboth,
Mass, Feb 25, 1761. A letter from Rev. Job
Macomber, then in the district of Maine.
presumably to Rev. Isaac Backus, of Middle
hnr thn L:
Maine as preacher of the gospel. He was
ordained in Dighton, Mass, Sept. 10, 1888,
and the day following started for the wilds
of Maine. After laboring awhile in the vi
cinity of Brunswick, he preached in Thom-
aston. where he established a church
OF which he became the pastor. But
his labors were not confined to Thomas
ton. He felt deep interest in the destitute
regions around; and these he visited preach
ing the glad tidings with great plainness CT
sdeech. but with such tenderness that hearts
were touched, and led to accept Christ as
the redeemer of lost men. In this way were
laid the foundations of many churches in the
region round about. In 1890 Mr.. Case organ
lied the Winthrop Baptist church, of which
he became pastor. In this relation he re-
mained until the year 1900. when he resigned
in order to give himself wholly to missionary
work. For more than quarter of a century
he labored as a pioneer, extending his Jour
neys into the British Provinces. Indeed un-
til the close Of his missionary service there
were established in Maine east of Portland
few Baptist churches in the formation of
which he did not have part. Wherever he
went his deep. fervent piety was recognized
by all, and the tender heart searching ap-
peals that fell from his lips were enforced
by his stainless Christian character. He
was neither fame of fire nor a flashing
sword, but an apostle of love; and when the
cry OF the destitute reached his ears forth he
at once hastened. Other men heard that cry
and answered it. but in the missionary an
mails of Maine there is no such record of con-
tinuOus service so widely extended as that
which is furnished in the life of Isaac Case.
He died at his home in Read6eld, November
8. 1852, in the 92nd year of his age; and
where lonce stood the church which was
erected for him, and in ground over which
he had for so many years proclaimed the
glad message Of redeeming love, the remains
of this faithful servant of Christ were laid
here to rest
This afternoon at the opening of the ses-
sion Rev. DR.. Kicker presented the claims of
the Maine Baptist Missionary Convention.
Rev. c. f. Holbrook then read paper on
what changes can be made by which the
churches can do more effective work. An
interesting discussion followed. Rev. S. G.
Sargent of Augusta, read paper giving
"reminiscences of some of the pastors of the
Bowdoinham church.
There was large attendance throughout
the session, and the occasion was one of
deep interest to all present. The delegates
were most Hospitality entertained by the
members of the church and the citizens of
the town